Supporting device for lenghts of hoop-iron.



No. 703,449. Patented July I, I902.

J. McOUlSTUN.

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR uzus'rus or HOOP mom.

' (Application filed Apr. 14, 1902.)

(lo Model.) 1

wa fmam aay 0g ig 644% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MCQUISTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR LENGTHS OF HOOP-lRON SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 703,449, dated July. i,-19o'2.

Application filed April 14, 1902.

them into a bath of metal or metal and alloys and afterward withdrawing the sheets or strips from the bath and allowing the melted metal upon them to cool thereon; and the invention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts forming the supporting apparatus, which I will hereinafter describe and claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a suitable supporting device or apparatus for the pieces of hoop-iron as they come from the mill and which are to be galvanized or plated and which it is desirable to keep separated,

so as to enable the plating or galvanizing solution to act on all parts of each individual piece of hoop and to so construct the supporting apparatus that the pieces of curved hoopiron may grip the supporting member with suffieient power to prevent the pieces which have substantially the same specific gravity as the solution in which they are dipped or submerged from floating off and becoming separated from said member or coming in contact with each other, it being understood that any desired number of split hoops or curved pieces ofhoop-iron or other lengths may be supported upon the supporting apparatus, with each piece having its own separate seat and prevented from rubbing against the other pieces. i

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a. longitudinal sectional view of a supporting device for hoop-iron embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line a: m of Fig. -1. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. etis a modification to be referred to.

It is customary in the manufacture of hoopiron for the mills to turn out the iron in form Serial No. 102,842. (No model.)

of curved pieces, like a split hoop, and the ends. of the split or bifurcated portion are usually formed with holes for the rivets which are subsequently employed to unitesaid ends and form the complete 1100p. These split hoops are usually flared or made like a short frustum; of a cone in cross-section, so that they readilyaccommodate themselves when finished and the split ends united to the taper of the barrel, keg, or vessel to which they are to be attached. To handle these curved pieces of hoop-iron in the galvanizing-bath and to obtain a uniform galvanizing of all parts thereof has heretofore been no easy matter, and the process usually adapted has been more or less slow, expensive, andunsatisfactory; butby the use of my, device I am permitted to expeditiously handle thepieees of hoop-iron'and obtain a uniformly-coated surface while handling the hoop-iron in bulk and obviating all danger of the several pieces rubbing against each other either when in the vat or when being removed therefrom.

In carrying out my invention I construct the supporting device A of two or more bands, which may be int-he form of segmental or curved pieces a of metal and whose open or split ends a are presented downwardly. These bands or pieces a; are connected by transverse rods or bars I), whichinay be round, square, or of other cross-sectional form, and if square or angular in cross-section the angles may be utilized substantially as knife-edges of contact for the edges of the hoop-iron, which said rods or bars are intended to support. At the top and at more places, if desired, is a bar 13, which extends transversely from one band or piece a to the other, said bar having fixed to it and rising an appropriate distance above it a series of spaced pins or lugs d, the spaces between which-have a hoop-iron which isto be subjected to the galvanizing process, whereby the said hoop-iron is loosely seated in thespacebetween adjacent pins or lugs. In horizontal cross-section width somewhat in excess of the width of the which a bail or handle portion is preferably pivotally connected, said bail serving as the means, in conjunction with any well-known form of hook or elevating device, (not shown,) for dipping the holder and its hoop-iron into the galvanizing-vat and removing it therefrom.

In operation the curved hoop-iron is sprung upon the supporting device, so that its legs, formed by the split end, will straddle the device and bear with sufficient friction against the rods or bars I) to hold the iron in place and against any possibility of its becoming dislodged or floating off during the dipping process, while the central portion of the hoopiron is seated in the space between adjacent pins or lugs d. The desired number of pieces of hoop-iron just as they come from the mill and after they have been given their flared or frustum-of-a-cone shape are assembled on the holder, as above described, and the holder and its charge are dipped into the vat which contains the galvanizing or plating solution, and after remaining there the appropriate length of time to insure the proper coating of the hoop-iron the holder is slowly lifted from the vat, the galvanizing solution slowly flowing down the curved sides of the hoop-iron, the surplus material dripping from the lower or separated ends. The curved character of the hoop-iron facilitates the uniform flow of the zinc usually employed and produces all the fine effects of a wiped surface without the use of any independent wiping device. The hoop-iron may remain in its position upon the holder until the coated surface cools, when the iron is removed and is ready for application to the barrel, cask, &c., by simply joining the split ends of the hoop-iron by riveting in the usual well-known manner.

By means of the device or apparatus herein described it will be apparent that the process of galvanizing hoop-iron is facilitated on account of the saving in time required in handling separate pieces of ho op-iron, especially in the bath or galvanizing-vat. At the same timeIobtain substantially a uniformly-wiped surface and prevent the pieces of hoop-iron rubbing against each other.

While I have herein described my invention with relation to hoop-iron, I do not wish to be understood as limiting its use to this material, as it may be used with advantage for coating any curved pieces, sections of curved pipes, rods, &c.

Any number of cross-bars B, either at the top or otherwise, may be used and provided with pins, and said bars may be positioned around the hands a, in any desired manner and may be substituted for the transverse rods, as shown in Fig. 4.

The invention is, also, not limited in its use to flared hoop-iron. Therefore in Fig. 3 I show cylindrical strip which is not flared, it being also understood that the device may be used for any and all forms of curved lengths.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Means for supporting curved pieces or lengths of metal comprising a skeleton frame of curved form and a cross-bar thereon having fixed spaced projections between adjacent side walls of which the middle portions of the pieces or lengths are seated.

2. Asupporting device for pieces or lengths of curved metal said device including end bands and connecting cross members, and a bar at the upper portion of the device extending between said end bands and provided with fixed spaced projections between adjacent side Walls of which the middle portions of the pieces or lengths are seated.

3. A supporting device for pieces of curved and flared hoop-iron said device including end bands and connecting cross-bars, and a horizontal bar at the upper portion of the device, extending between the end bands and having spaced projections between adjacent side walls of which the central portions of the curved and flared pieces or lengths of hoop-iron are seated whereby the separated end members of hoop-iron engage said connecting cross-bars, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MCQUISTON.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. MAOFARLANE, A. M. IMBRIE. 

